Asthma
RSV prevention in newborns could cut childhood asthma risk, study suggests
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Belgian researchers working with Danish partners report that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in early infancy are linked to a higher risk of childhood asthma, especially in children with a genetic tendency to allergies. In experimental models, protecting newborns from RSV prevented the immune changes associated with later asthma. The findings, published in Science Immunology, highlight potential long-term benefits of emerging RSV prevention tools.
Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have discovered that asthma may be driven by 'pseudo leukotrienes' formed through free-radical reactions, rather than the traditionally blamed leukotrienes produced by enzymes. These molecules appear at higher levels in asthma patients, correlating with symptom severity. The finding suggests potential new treatments targeting the root cause of inflammation.